At the Green Bride Guide we show every couple how easy it is to use their wedding as a vehicle for positive change. Here is an occasion when all your friends and family are gathered together, all eyes are on you, and every piece of the celebration is a reflection of who you are. This presents a great opportunity to showcase your values while managing the challenge of wedding logistics.
A crucial piece of wedding planning is coordinating transportation and anticipating the travel needs of your guests. Their travel can dramatically increase the carbon footprint of your celebration, as can your honeymoon. Here are some ways to green your wedding travel, and your travel in general.
Get Started Before You Even Leave Your House
Taking the time to prepare your home and vehicle before your big excursion can save tons of resources.
- Unplug your appliances and lower the thermostats before you leave the house.
- Bring reusable containers for water and food with you instead of buying bottled water. Chances are that bottled water has been shipped quite a distance, so take advantage of the tap water if you are somewhere where it is safe.
- Pack less clothing and wear outfits more than once.
- Always pack light. The lighter your car is, the better the gas mileage.
- Bring small, travel-size, refillable toiletry bottles that you can use over and over again.
- If you go shopping, bring a reusable tote with you or a backpack so you won’t need plastic bags.
- Bring rechargeable gadgets with you instead of batteries which require special disposal and contain toxins.
- If you do decide to use your car, get a tune up and make sure your tires are well inflated. You’ll be able to travel further on each tank of gas.
Reduce What You Can, Then Offset
Most of an airplane’s carbon emissions come from takeoff and landing, so book nonstop flights if possible. In addition to trying to reduce your consumption, you can offset the carbon your trip adds to the atmosphere in a few different ways. The number of companies offering carbon-offsetting is growing quickly, so shop around before selecting the right program to fit your needs. The sale of carbon offsets helps to fund renewable energy projects that either remove CO2 from the air or reduce future emissions.
Find a Sustainable Destination
With a little research, or the help of a green travel agent, you can find eco-tourism destinations as well as green-certified hotels and lodging. Some even offer organic and locally grown food. Small ecotourism boat trips provide another option if you are looking for a cruise-type adventure without the large environmental impact of a standard cruise liner.
- Check out the Green Hotel Association. This organization works to educate management and staff so they learn to recognize what needs to be done to operate more sustainably. Their approved members are hotels committed to conserving water and energy and reducing solid waste.
- Look for Green Globe, Green Seal and LEED Certifications.
- Stay at places that also function as sustainable farms.
- Find hotels that offer the option to skip daily hotel room service and towel washing. Some hotels offer vouchers for their restaurants as an added incentive if you choose to go green.
- If your hotel does not offer a green option, leave a note for the staff and ask them to leave the towels and sheets untouched until you need them washed to save water and energy.
- Explore other eco-tour options to sightsee, such as biking, kayaking, horseback riding and hiking.
- Find maps on greenmap.org of places you are going to visit. They designate all green businesses.
Planes, Trains and Hybrids!
Upon arrival, ask your hotel if they provide shuttle services to and from different attractions, or use public transportation such as trains, buses or shuttles to get to and from your destinations. You also can look for places to rent a hybrid vehicle or another type of alternative fuel vehicle. Here are some options to consider:
- Enterprise now offers the Toyota Prius at some of its locations. If you live in California or Arizona tryEvRental. If you are in Hawaii you can useBio–Beetle.
- Arrange for non-motored transportation such as pedi-cabs, or sightsee from a horse drawn carriage. Some cities even offer Segway tours, small electric powered vehicles you can get around on! (http://www.segwayguidedtours.com/segwaytoturs.cfm?Country=USA)
- For information on walking tours try Audiblejourneys.com.
Volunteer Your Time
Going green also means giving back to local communities. What better way to do your part than to offer your services during your vacation time to help a local school, or build houses in an impoverished area? You can even plan a specialized trip that focuses on marine conservation or teaching waste management classes. Here are just some volunteer vacation ideas:
- Plant trees to lessen carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, create shelter for birds and provide shade for the locals.
- If you are on a tropical island honeymoon, participate in a marine conservation project. You can learn about coral reef preservation, document the threats to their health and help test techniques that might restore them. http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/rollino.html?gclid=CJCh25SloqoCFaZx5QodKBG6Wg
- Teach waste management or youth education classes where you stay.
- Check out the following organizations for volunteer work: Cross Cultural Solutions,http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/volunteering–abroad/when/volunteer–vacation/ Earth Watchhttp://www.earthwatch.org/ Institute Expeditions page, Global Exchange,http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/ Cheaptickets Volunteer Vacations,
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Staycation Relaxation
So many times we come home and feel like we need a vacation from our vacation. Another option is to stay close to home to reduce travel related stress while keeping it green. Local vacations support the economy and can save you money to boot! Here are just some ways to spend your time off:
- Try new restaurants or find a cozy B&B close to home.
- Enjoy a series of day trips and sleep in your own bed at night; this reduces time spent in-transit and allows for more playtime.
- Plant a tree or volunteer with an organization in your area.
- Be a tourist in your own city! Discover new parks, tours or theatre that you normally might not go to because you take them for granted.
- Visit your local farmer’s markets and country fairs for local and organic foods.
- Turn off your cell phone, leave your computer at home and forget about work while you spend a day at a local spa. An added green bonus? Find a spa that uses local and organic products to pamper you.
Traveling green does not mean you have to sacrifice your idea of fun, or spend all your time and energy making every aspect of your vacation eco-friendly. Every choice makes a difference, so choose the options that work best for you and you will be off to a great start!